Ditching-machine



(No Model.) =3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

E. B. RENSHAW.

DITGHING MACHINE.

No. 373,484. PatentedNov. 22, 1887.

WITNESSES Attorneys (No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

E. E. RENSHAW.

DITGHING MACHINE.

atented Nov. 22, 1887. k il l llllm-u WITNESSES 1.7V VEJV'TOR '3Sheets-Sheet 3. Q

(No Model.)

B. E. RENSHAW.

DITGHING MAGHINE.

Patented Nov. 22, 1887.

IN VEiVTOR Attorney s wumn m v-m. Washiugmn, n. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT Fries.

ELMER E. RENSHAWV, OF GOLCONDA, ILLINOIS.

DITCHING- MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming par; of Letters Patent No. 373,484, dated November22, 1887.

Application filed February 15, 1887. Serial No. 227,731. (No model.)

To all whom it 12mg concern.-

Be it known that l, ELMER E. RENSHAW, a citizen of the United States,and a resident of Golconda, in the county of Pope and State of Illinois,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ditching-Machines;and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being hadto the accompanying drawings, and to letters or figures of referencemarked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

Figure 1 of the drawings is a representation of a side elevation. Fig. 2is a plan view. Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view. Fig. 4 is a side elevationof the side opposite that shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a verticallongitudinal sec tion on the line x 00, Fig. 2. Fig. 6 is a trans versevertical section through the front platform. Fig. 7 is a similar viewthrough the main axle. Figs. 8, 9, and 10 are detail views.

Myinvention relates to ditching and grading machines; and it consists inthe construction and novel combination of parts, as hereinafter setforth.

Referring by letter to the accompanying drawings, A designates the mainframe of the machine, which frame is provided at its front end withscraper B, the lower edges of the sides of the latter being horizontal.The bottom proper, of the scraper is inclined from below upward andbackward from its front end or point.

At each side, and just above the bottom 0, the scraper B is providedwith inclined tracks D E, upon which the rake-rolls F travel when therakeG is drawn upwardly on the scraper.

Above the inclined tracks D E, and secured to the inner faces of thesides H H of the scraper B,are the horizontal laterallyextended tracks IJ, the rear portions, K, of which are hinged to the rear ends of thefront or stationary portions, L, of the tracks I J, and extend to andnormally rest upon the inclined tracks D E, the purpose of saidhorizontal tracks being to give to the rake a forward horizontalmovement to permit it to fall upon the collected earth at the lower endof the scraper preparatory to the next backward and upward movement.

M is the'axle of the machine, which axle is journaled in hearings in thesides of the main frame A at a suitable distance in rear of the scraperB. The axle M revolves in its bearings, and is provided on its endsoutside of the main frame with traction-wheels N N, which latter aresecured on the rectangular ends of the axle and revolve the axle whenthe machine is drawn forward.

The axle M is provided with a sleeve, P, the bore of which is circularin cross-section. Said sleeve P is provided on its outer end with apinion, Q, and on its inner end with a sprocketpinion, 1%, whichsprocket-pinion is provided on its inner face, or the face nearest tothe middle of the axle, with diametrically-opposed studs S, which studsS, when the mechanism is in gear, engage seats in a sliding clutch, T,

adapted to slide lengthwise on the axle M.

The sliding clutch T is operated by a cranked lever, U, which isbifurcated at its front end to receive the sliding clutch T,which clutchis pivoted between the arms of the bifurcationV. The cranked lever U isfulcrumed in a seat in the inner end of the arm WV, which arm projectsinwardly from one side of the main frame A a short distance in rear ofthe axle M. The cranked lever U extends back between the handles X ofthe machine and through a guideloop, Y, and is notched in its lower edgeat Z, to engage the round a of the handles. The cranked lever U isprovided at its rear end with a ring, I), by which to grasp it tooperate said lever to throw the machine in and out of gear.

In rear of the pinion Q and engaging therewith is a smaller pinion, c,the shaft d of which is a crank-shaft and is journaled in bearings inone side of the main frame andinabracket, e, secured to the inner faceof said side of the main frame. The crank-shaft d is connected by apitmanrothf, to the lower end of an upwardly-extended lever, g,whichlatter lever is fulcrumed on a transverse rod, h, supported in the upperends of vertical arms 2' i, rising from the main frame near the rear endof the latter.

To the upper end of the lever g is hinged the rear end of the rake-rod1', which extends forward and is bifurcated at its forward end, as at G,and is provided with two depending is provided with the rake-rolls F,before menblades or scrapers, s t, the rear one, t, of which tioned. Inthesides of the main frame, and just in rear of thedownwardly-projectingside walls, H H, of the scraper B, isrigidlysecured the ends ofa transverse rod, 1), at the middle portion ofwhich rod '1; is hinged an angular bracket, to. Between thedownwardly-projecting arms :0 w of the bracket to the connecting-barg ofthe vertical arms 2' z is pivoted to swing sidewise on its pivot.Between the lower ends of the arms z z a smaller supporting-wheel, 1,isjournaled. To the horizontallyprojecting rearwardly-extending arm 2 ofthe bracket to the front end of a shifting-rod or bar, 3, is hinged orpivoted. The shifting rod or bar 3extends back beyond the round a. ofthe handle X. The rear end of the shiftingrod 3 is notched or providedwith teeth in its lower edge, which teeth are adapted to engage theround a. The rear end of the shifting-rod 3 passes through a guide-loop,4, on the round a, and is provided in its extreme rear end with a ring,5, which is used to manipulate the shifting-rod to move thesupporting-wheel 1 into contact and from contact with the ground.

6 designates the front platform, which in outline is in the shape of ahorseshoe, having vertical upwardly-extending flanges or sides 7and 8along its inner and outer edges, respectively. To the under face of theplatform 6, near each end thereof, are secured the ends of a flangedtransverse bar, 9, having an angular depression, 10, intermediate of itsends.

The depression 10 forms the lower bearing for,

the lower end of the vertical shaft 11. A rectangular bracket, 12, risesfrom the depression 10 and forms the intermediate bearing for thevertical shaft 11, the upper bearing of said shaft 11 being in the frontend of a connectingbar, 13. Just below the end of the connecting-bar 13the vertical shaft 11 is provided with a flanged sprocket-wheel,14. Uponthe upper face of the rectangular bracket 12 a cam-disk, 15, is secured,and forms the track for the friction-rolls 16, journaled in bearings ofthe sweep-arms 17, near the inner ends of the said sweeper-arms. Thesweep-arms 17 at their-inner ends are hinged or pivoted in seats 18 in ahub, 19, secured to the vertical shaft 11, so that when the shaft andhub are revolved the arms 17 will be carried around by them. At theirouter ends the arms 17 are provided with curved blades 20, the joints orfront ends of said blades being curved in the direction of the line oftravel of the blades.

To the axle M, and close to the sides of the main frame -A, the lowerends of two upwardly and rearwardly extending arms, 21 and 22, aresecured, their upper ends extending beyond the peripheries of thetraction-wheels. The upper ends of the arms 21 and 22 are pro- .videdwith bearings, in which the ends of a transverse shaft, 23, arejournaled. Hinged arms and 61 connect the front platform to thetransverse shaft 23. The shaft 23 is provided with a doublesprocket-pulley, '24 25, which is secured to said shaft 23 and revolvestherewith when the latter is operated. 'The inner portion of thesprocket-pulley 25 is connected by an endless sprocket-chain, 26, withthe sprocket-pinion R on the sleeve P. The

outer portion, 24, of the double sprocketpulley is connected by anendless sprocketchain, 27, to a sprocket-pulley, 28, journaled on ashaft, 29, having hearings in a recess in the front platform, 6. At itsinner end the shaft 29 is provided with a miter-pinion, 30,

which engages and drives a miter-gear, 31, on

the vertical shaft 11 of the sweeper-arms 17.

The front platform, 6, is hinged to the rear end of the upper portion ofthe inclined scraper B, and is provided on its lower face with arearwardly-extending notched bar or rack, 32. The transverse shaft 23 isprovided with a rearwardly and upwardly extending prop orsupporting-arm, 33, which is bifurcated in its upper end and is providedwith a crank-rod, 34, which is adapted to engageeither one of thenotches of the rack 32, to

support the frontplatform at the desired inclination. At its rear end,and at one side of the longitudinal middle line of the front platform,said front platform is provided with an angular laterally projectingdepending bracket-arm, 35, to which the inner end of the flangedtransverse bar 36 of the rear platform,

37, is secured bya rod, 38, passed through aligned seats in thebracket-arms 35 and trans verse bar 36.

The rear platform, 37, is similar in construction to the front platformproper, except as to the gearing by which the former platform is driven.

The upper end of the shaft 42 of the 'rear' platform, 37, is providedwith a sprocketwheel, 39, which is connected by a sprocketchain, 40,with the sprocket-wheel 14 near the upper end of the vertical shaft 11.The up per bearing of the shaft 42 is in the rear end of theconnecting-bar 13. The rear platform, 37, is removable, and may bereplaced by a larger platform similarly constructed when it is desiredto grade wider.

The cam-disks prevent the sweep-arms 0f the two platforms frominterfering with each other in moving the dirt along their respectiveplatforms.

A draft iron or bail, 43, is attached to the front of the machine, bywhich to draw the machine along.

An ordinary plow is first used to loosen the dirt, and theditching-machine'is afterward employed to elevate the dirt and depositit at the sides of the ditch.

The rake at the front of the machine feeds the dirt regularly to thesweeps on the front platform. The rake makes a trip to every from whichit is carried by the sweeps on the latter platform and deposited it atthe side of the ditch. As the ditch deepens, the platform can beelevated through the media of the rackbar and the hinged supportingarmor prop, and can again be lowered when necessary.

When the small wheel in rear of the inclined scraper is thrown incontact with the ground, the traction-wheels may be raised from theground by lifting on the handles, and the machine may be drawn over theroad or ditch without operating the mechanism.

Having described this invention, what I claim, and desire to secure byLetters Patent, 1s

1. The combination, with the axle provided with the traction-wheels andthe main frame provided at its front end with the scraper havinginclined tracks and horizontal tracks having the rear hinged portions,of the front platform hinged to the scraper, the rear platform connectedto an extension of the front platform, the canrdisks on said platforms,the vertical shafts provided with hubs and sprocketpulleys, the barconnecting the vertical shafts, the sprocket-chain connecting thesprocketpnlleys on the vertical shafts, the reciprocating rake, and thesweeps provided with friction-rolls and hinged in the hubs of thevertical shafts, substantially as specified.

2. The combination of the main frame, the tractionwheels, the axleprovided with the up wardly-projecting arms, the pinion sprocketwheeland sliding clutch on the axle, the cranked pinion engaging the pinionon the axle, the vertical lever connected with the cranked pinion andthe rake, the transverse shaft supported in the upwardly-projecting armsand provided with the double sprocketpulley, the front hinged platformprovided with a miter-gear on its vertical shaft and a miter-pinionengaging said miter-gear, the sprocket-chains connecting themiter-pinion with the double sprocket-pulleys and the sprocket-Wheel onthe axle, the notched bar on the lower face of the front platform, thehinged prop provided with the crank-rod in its upper end, the removablerear platform,and the hinged and connected sweeps en the front and rearplatforms, substantially as specified.

3. The combination of the main frame, scraper, traction-wheels, frontand rear platforms, and mechanism, substantially as described, forconnecting and operating the hinged sweeps, the hinged supporting-wheel,u

and the notched lever or bar for raising and lowering the hingedsupporting-wheel, substantially as specified.

4. The combination of thehorseshoe-shaped platform, the flangedtransverse bar provided with the central depression and the angularbracket thereon, the vertical shaft provided with a flanged hub andcam-disk, and the hinged sweeps provided with friction-rolls in thelower edges of their arms, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ELMER E. RENSHAV.

\Vitnesses:

W. D. VAUGHN, J. C. THoMrsoN.

